WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 53, 5 October 1865, Page 2

WAIMEA.

DISCOVERY OF A SECOND BOTTOM, ONE PENNYWEIGHT TO THE DISH.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 2. The weather during the past week has been particularly favourable for sluicing operations, a considerable amount of rain having fallen. This, although interfering sadly with the work of a few parties whose claims are situate iv the bed of the creek, has been of signal service to those on the terraces. In many claims, no washing is done except when tho rain is coining down. The great event of the week, has been the discovery of a second bottom. Some men who were working about a mile and a quarter below the township, in sinking through the false bottom on which the miners here have been working, suddenly came on to a layer of gravel, and shortly afetrwards struck the main bottom, consisting of a certain kind of slate, similar, I believe, to that seen near the coast to the southwards. On bottoming, gold was distinctly to be scon in tho dirt, prospects of nearly a pennyweight being washed to the dish. In two days above six ounces were obtained. Several of the business men and some of the gentlemen connected with tho banks visited the claim, and have since expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied that a very largo area of ground at present lying idle in the vicinity of the above-mentioned claim will, when the false bottom is sunk through, prove handsomely remunerative. In my next report, I hope to be able, from personal observation, to give further particulars. At present the owners of tho ground appear disposed to keep their discovery as quiet as possible. Cotton and party • are busily engaged in constructing their head-race, which commences at a point situato immediately below the township. This party are carrying their race on to somo high terraces situato at tho rear of McMullin's store. Upwards of a mile and a half of tho race is already constructed, and sluicing operations will shortly be commenced. From the profipccts* obtained, it i 9 confidently expected that tho claim will turn out to bo n first-nito one. Hell and party's raoo is being cut nt "n lo pel of twelve loo i. above Cotton's, and it is intended to bo f.'ovovul miles in length. This race is hping curried along tho south bank of .the Wuimea, and will bo buHi-v.-icntly hi»;h to, make the water availj'.in'on most of* the terraces below the K'svmhip.

Trade is a little brisker of late, in consequence of the numerous arrivals that have taken place during the past few weeks. Provisions still maintain their old prices ; beef is plentiful at from Is. to Is. 3d. per lb. ; bread 2s. 6d. the 4-lb. loaf; flour £1 14s. per 50-lb bag ; sugar Is. ; butter 3s. 6d., &c. Packing from Hokitika 355. per cwt.

We are still impatiently waiting for further steps to be tatan by the inhabitants of Hokitika, with regard to the separation movement, as wo are all anxious to see the idea carried out. Every one appears to be anxious upon this point, ns, all fancy we have been sufficiently long under the misrule of the " Canterbury Blokes.*'

A,SLiGnTMiBTAKE.— -The employes at the telegraph offices in Paris are not particular to a shade. A fishmonger received a despatch this week iuforming him that the Pasha of Egypt was coming to Paris. •" What was Hecuba to him, or l)e to Hecuba P " The Pusha was no customer of his. At the fllmo time tho Foreign Minister was surprised at learning the price of mackerel and salmon.

Lord,S{;. .Leonards has just obtained a return of all persons in prison for debt, damage, or .contempt. It appears that there is a prisoner in Whitecross-street who was committed in April 1843 — upwards of 22 years ago. Another man waa commit Led in. 1847.

Orders for Four. — Three persons were brought iip at Wellingborough for a disturbance in a public house- A part of the charge against .them was the orders given, by>them for supper, Solomon took his scat first, placed bis hands on the table, • and ' issued the following "order : '' Waiter, bring me a dish of fried millstones, and two church steeples cold, without sugar." George next gave his order : " A pint of town pumps done brown, with a spoon in r it." Stephen was the next on the list', and ordered as follows : "Landlord, bring me'a quart of station clerks, two fried contractors, and a bootjack. " Mr. Driver came last, and n\ado the folloVing modest request : " Landlord, bring me the Thames Tunnel stuffed with onions, and a pint of South Sea Bubbles warm without." Tho simple landlord, after considering for a minute, merely answered, " I ain't got 'ein gentlemen," when a row took place. — English Paper. A Luoid Explanation. —An Englishman travelling in the South of Ireland overtook a peasant travelling tbe same way. "Who lives iv that fino house on the hill, Pat V asked the traveller. " One Mr-'Cassidy, sir," replied Pat ; " but he's dead— God rest his sowl." l% How long has he been dead V asked the gentleman, " well, yer honour, if ho lived till next month, he'd be dead iuat twelve months." "Of what did he die?' "Troth, sir, he died of a Tuesday."